Meeting Planner Careers

No one needs to point out that the market for meeting planners is very competitive. In order to be successful, you must accrue satisfied clients. It simply is not possible to please everyone; it is possible to treat each client with respect and do all that is within your power to give him or what they desire.

It all comes back to the basics of respect and courtesy. A good meeting planner tries to match client expectations with reality. Do you have a checklist for how you interact with a client? Probably not, at least not a formal one. Making a list can help you clean up your act in areas that you may have become careless about.

Here’ a short list to get started: Do you

• return emails and phone calls promptly?
• keep clients informed about their event, even if there are snags in the plans?
• treat your client with respect?
• practice patience?
• maintain confidentiality? It’s not the law, but it is good business manners.
• cut costs and fees whenever possible? Are you upfront about event costs? No one likes hidden surprises when the bill is presented.

You cannot control how the client treats you, but chances are if you extend courtesy and respect first, it is much more likely that you will receive it in turn.

Meeting and event planners working in larger cities will  have higher income potential than those working in less populated areas. Areas like Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles have larger populations and more large corporations based there, so they tend to have more demand for event planners.

Event planners who start their own business  may struggle getting started, but those who are good at what they do, and who have good business sense, will see their income rise with no “ceiling.” However, working for a  hotel or other venue or an event planning company will give stability.  Depending on the metropolitan area, a meeting and event planner salary can range anywhere from $30K to $80K.

Now that people are losing their jobs coast to coast in the United States, it is difficult to know where to start when looking for a job. But have you considered hiring yourself? Today more people are turning to self-employment instead of crying in their soup about the economy. If you are one of those adventurous people who refuses to be held down, read on.

Starting a Business

Although this can be a daunting process, if you take it slow and steady you will end up with the best base for your operations. First, check with local and state governments to see what sort of regulations may be required for your particular business. Apply for licenses and permits as necessary.

Then decide where you want to conduct your operations. If you want to work out of your home, check local zoning regulations before having your stationery printed–you might be surprised to find out that you have too many restrictions to run a business there. If you have to find space, make sure you have all the paperwork necessary as well as any possible loan approvals before you shop. Read more…